Labour appears to have forgotten yet another of its pledges made to the electorate. Tony Blair now admits he is prepared to see under-seven school classes of more than 30 pupils.

As if that was not enough, his so-called tough new policy on allowing random drug testing in schools has a large "black hole" in it. The Department for Education and Skills has announced that head teachers do not have the power to compel pupils to take blood and urine tests.

Could do better, must try harder.

JOAN McTIGUE Independent Councillor for Beechwood Ward

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Drugs testing will not cut abuse in schools: the first ever US national study by the University of Michigan found absolutely no difference in rates of drug use between schools that have testing programmes and those that do not.

What it has achieved is more truancy and even more suspicion and resentment between students and teachers.

In the US, children are subjected to a litany of humiliations due to this policy. Some - like being forced to urinate in front of their teacher - blatantly flout the "inherent right to dignity" recognised by the UN Charter.

If we really wanted to cut child drug abuse we would implement a progressive education programme on the health risks of all drugs - legal and illegal.